Extent of Smith injury remains a mystery
BOSTON While the news isn’t good, it seems as though Mike Smith’s lower body injury is not as serious as originally feared.
The Calgary Flames No. 1 goalie is still with the team in Boston and underwent some testing on Monday as the group reported to the Warrior Ice Arena for an informal skate in the afternoon.
But it was certainly a scary sight when the 35-year-old workhorse was wincing in pain as he was helped off the ice on Sunday at Brooklyn’s Barclay’s Center. There were 1.1 seconds remaining in Calgary’s eventual 3-2 win over the New York Islanders, which prompted back-up David Rittich to draw in for the final face-off.
Flames general manager Brad Treliving is expected to provide an update on Smith’s injury — which is suspected to be a groin issue — on Tuesday at Calgary’s morning skate at TD Garden ahead of their evening clash against the Bruins (5 p.m. MT, Sportsnet West, Sportsnet 960 The Fan).
Smith will not be available for the game and, as such, the Flames recalled Jon Gillies from their American Hockey League affiliate, the Stockton Heat, to serve as backup to Rittich for tonight’s game. Troy Brouwer (broken cheekbone) was also placed on injured reserve, retroactive to the team’s Feb. 8 game against the New Jersey Devils.
“We’ll have an update of where (Smith) is at,” said Flames head coach Glen Gulutzan. “We had planned to give Ritty that start, in our minds depending on how things went. That’s going to be his start and it was probably his start a week ago.”
Smith was credited with Sunday’s win, despite the injury and is now 23-16-6 on the season with a 2.53 goals against average and .921 save percentage.
Rittich, meanwhile, started Calgary’s Feb. 8 game at New Jersey and faced 32 shots in a 3-2 win over the Devils. The 25-year-old is now 5-1-2 with a 2.20 goals against average and .927 save percentage.
“He’s got a great sense of humour, an extremely hard worker,” Gulutzan said of Rittich. “A great personality, as you guys know. Guys love him. And he competes. The biggest thing for me is his hockey I.Q. He can read plays. For a guy you don’t know much about, there are some practices that he doesn’t let in a goal. He’s a dialed in guy. His ability to read plays is tremendous.”